Our nervous system is responsible for coordinating our bodily actions and sending signals to different parts of the body. Parkinson’s disease is a disease of this nervous system that causes a part of the brain’s neurons to become non-functional. This particular part of the brain is responsible for the control of body movement. This is a condition where these specific nerve cells either die or get damaged and thus cannot function normally. This leads to lack of a chemical known as dopamine in the body. The chemicals that are made by the neurons in the body work in coordination to help all the nerves and muscles in the body to aid us in movement. When dopamine is not produced, the body suffers from problems in movement and coordination because the body is not getting the right signals.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

• Tremor-A person suffering from Parkinson’s disease may face slight tremors or shaking of the fingers, hand or jaw while doing some work or even while at rest.

• Stiffness- The person may also suffer from stiffness of the limbs and neck instead of normal flexibility.

• Impaired movement- A Parkinson’s disease patient may find his or her movements slowing down or becoming impaired. Gradually involuntary actions like blinking also decrease. Walking and balance may be affected.

• Reduced reaction- There may be reduction in mental skill which leads to slow or delayed reaction, lack of facial expression and change in voice.

• Depression and dementia are associated with Parkinson’s disease.

• Abnormal posture-A person suffering from Parkinson’s may show a stooped posture instead of a straight one. He or she may have bent elbows, knees or hips while trying to walk.

• Lack of sense of smell-Parkinson’s patients often lose the ability to smell food or scents even if they are quite strong.

• Change in handwriting-Another symptom seen in Parkinson’s patients is reduced size of handwriting. Gradually, the writing becomes more crowded and reduced in size to the level of becoming illegible.

There is no particular cause known to be responsible for Parkinson’s. Some of the reasons that are thought to cause Parkinson’s disease are genetic factors, aging, environmental damage and oxidative damage.

Treatment

Diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is possible through a number of tests and detection of the symptoms. Treatment of this disease includes medicines that can control the symptoms and prevent them from getting worse. However, there is no complete cure for Parkinson’s disease but you may lead a normal life with the help of drugs that keep the symptoms in check. Oral medication is the mainstay of treatment for Parkinson’s disease. However, in Advanced Parkinson’s disease, oral medication may become less effective and the patient may need invasive treatment such as Deep Brain Stimulation surgery or infusional therapies like Apomorphine pump therapy for symptom management. Nanavati Hospital is one of thebest hospitals in Mumbai, India for treatment of advanced Parkinson Diseasesand has got the right infrastructure to cater to the needs of Parkinson’s patients to help them lead a normal life. If you are looking for reputed doctors and specialists to treat this disease that may be troubling your family member, your search ends here.